2013 Boston Invitational Mile & 5K

A Taste of Monday

The B.A.A. 5K has become an integral part of Boston Marathon weekend. Held the morning before the marathon, it gives runners a taste of Monday's festivities, including a shared finish line with the marathon.

Photo by Robert James Reese, Text by Scott Douglas

Smith's Big Win

New Zealand's Kim Smith, a resident of nearby Providence, Rhode Island, won the women's race in 15:16. This morning's race was the first of a three-race series (there's also a 10-K in June and half-marathon in October) that awards $100,000 to the series champion. Smith won the inaugural series last year.

Photo by Robert James Reese, Text by Scott Douglas

Victory for Gebremeskel

Ethiopia's Dejen Gebremeskel won the men's 5-K in 13:37, 3 seconds up on American Aaron Braun. Gebremeskel won the silver medal at 5000 meters at last summer's Olympics, and more recently prevailed at last Sunday's Carlsbad 5000 in California.

Photo by Robert James Reese, Text by Scott Douglas

Huddle in Third

Molly Huddle, who holds the American record for 5000 meters, was third in the 5-K in 15:28. Kenyan Lineth Chepkurui was second in 15:23. Huddle and winner Smith are training partners.

Photo by Robert James Reese, Text by Scott Douglas

A Lovely Finish

Sunday morning's runners were greeted with bright skies and good racing temperatures after more dreary weather in recent days.

Photo by Robert James Reese, Text by Scott Douglas

Canine Support Team

Kathleen Fitzgerald, of Washington, D.C., calls the pet shop to let them know that Ewok ran a PR of 30:22.

Photo by Robert James Reese, Text by Scott Douglas

Watching the Mile

Like many of the 5-K runners, women's winner Smith hung around afterward to watch the scholastic and pro mile races.

Photo by Robert James Reese, Text by Scott Douglas

Hopkinton Team Win

Before the mile races, local middle school students ran a one-kilometer race. The Hopkinton duo of Molly Hawkins and Taylor Velazquez won the team title. Gabrielle Vandendries of Brookline was the individual winner in 3:24.

Photo by Robert James Reese, Text by Scott Douglas

Local Victory for Lara

The Boston duo of John Lara and Jovan Talavera won the boys middle school team kilometer race on a course that starts and finishes on Boylston Street. Lara was the individual winner in 2:55.

Photo by Robert James Reese, Text by Scott Douglas

Best Seat in the House

Watching from above, these two seem content to be spectators rather than racers. Or maybe they're saving themselves for Marathon Monday.

Photo by Robert James Reese, Text by Scott Douglas

Lodge's Edge

In what was the most exciting finish of the morning, Melissa Lodge of Hopkinton (right) edged out Sarah Lagan of Natick to win the girls high school mile. Lodge's time of 5:23 put her only .2 seconds ahead of Lagan.

Photo by Robert James Reese, Text by Scott Douglas

Another Narrow Win

Gabe Montague of Newton edged out Tim Bolick of Hopkinton for the boys high school mile title. Both were timed in 4:34.

Photo by Robert James Reese, Text by Scott Douglas

All According to Plan

Race director Dave McGillivray (hand to ear) looks pleased with the morning's proceedings. The 5-K and mile give McGillivray and his crew a chance to run through finish-line logistics before Marathon Monday.

Photo by Robert James Reese, Text by Scott Douglas

Ready to Race

New Zealander Nick Willis gathers himself before the men's professional mile. The race consists of loops around the marathon finish area. The course's many turns make for slow times but great spectating.

Photo by Robert James Reese, Text by Scott Douglas

Time for High-Fives

You know someone has a big lead when he does this at the end of a mile. Willis won in 4:03, five seconds ahead of Ross Murray of Great Britain.

Photo by Robert James Reese, Text by Scott Douglas

First in Class

Willis, the Olympic silver medalist at 1500 meters in 2008, was clearly the class of the seven-man field.

Photo by Robert James Reese, Text by Scott Douglas

Fast Field

The women's mile race was more evenly matched. The field included Violah Lagat of Kenya, whose brother Bernard you may have heard of, and U.S. 800-meter Olympian Geena Gall.

Photo by Robert James Reese, Text by Scott Douglas

Martinez for the Win

California resident Brenda Martinez prevailed in 4:52, one second up on Team USA Minnesota runner Gabriele Anderson.

Photo by Robert James Reese, Text by Scott Douglas

Onward to the Next Race

Her work done for the day, Martinez can now join us in looking forward to Marathon Monday.